(decentralized), the production cost is 1,704 Baht per ton
(56.8 US$: 1 Baht = 30 US$). For scenarios 2 and where
the 1 t/h and 2 t/h processing unit is established
centralized, the production cost is 1,523 Baht per ton
(50.8 US$) and 1,481 Baht per ton (49.4 US$),
respectively.
C
ONCLUSION AND
R
ECOMMENDATIONS
This study focused only on the supply chain
management of bio-pellet production from corn residues.
The processing unit, e.g. drying, grinding and pelletizing
of corn trash/skin and stem is necessary to improve the
properties of corn trash/skin and stem to be used as solid
fuel. This processing unit can be established centralized
or on field where residues are generated. Regarding to
economic analysis including raw material cost, collection
cost, transportation cost and processing cost, the overall
cost of bio-pellet from corn trash/skin and stem is
estimated to be 49.4-56.8 US$ per ton depending on the
pelletizing capacity. This bio-pellet has high heating
value and can further be used as alternative or
supplementary fuel in industrial plants or biomass power
plants for heat and power production via combustion or
gasification technology. The supply chain management
should be extended to cover the heat and power
production part in the future. In addition to study the
supply chain management, this study also focused on the
policy to promote the achievement of energy production
from biomass. From this study, the public participation
from all levels is necessary, starting from clear
government policies to make agriculturists and others to
realize the negative impact of burning agricultural
residues on-field. Additionally, Thai policies should
focus on the important of using agricultural residues as
the substitute to fossil fuel for energy production to order
to reduce the imported fossil fuel and the global warming
problem. From this study, the government policies should
be divided into 3 parts: Group 1 – to raise the public
awareness and public participation, Group 2 – to promote
and support and Group 3 – to develop and improve the
process in Thailand.
A
CKNOWLEDGMENT
The authors would like to appreciate the National
Research Council of Thailand for financial support to this
research, the community and the concerned person in
Petchaboon and Nakorn Sawan for the contribution in
this study by providing very useful information.
R
EFERENCES
[1]
Department of Alternative Energy Development and
Efficiency, Ministry of Energy,
Thailand Energy Statistics
2012
.
[2]
Department of Alternative Energy Development and
Efficiency, Ministry of Energy,
Alternative Energy
Development Plan: AEDP 2012-2021.
2013 International Conference on Alternative Energy in Developing Countries and Emerging Economies
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